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Telegram suspends channel for encouraging violent Iran protests http://ift.tt/2zRHArg Iran is currently engulfed in demonstrations: many are protesting the clerical leadership, corruption and increasing costs of living, while counter-protestors are trying to protect the regime. And Telegram finds itself caught in the middle. The chat service has suspended the Amadnews channel after it started encouraging subscribers to lob Molotov cocktails at police, breaking the company's policy against calls for violence. The move came after Iran telecoms minister Mohammad-Javad Azari Jahromi complained to company founder Pavel Durov, who said Telegram would have to block the channel if it was promoting violence as claimed. It's not clear if or when the channel might come back. The incident highlights the fine line Telegram has to walk. It doesn't want to be seen as supporting an oppressive government, especially one that wants to spy on Telegram users, but it also has to maintain a consistent anti-violence policy. If it's going to ban ISIS, it also has to ban activists that explicitly set out to hurt others, even if it ultimately helps governments silence resistance movements. Durov has been quick to object to complaints from Edward Snowden and other that he was facilitating Iran's crackdown on dissent, noting that "thousands" of Iranian opposition channels are "thriving" on Telegram. At the same time, this raises questions about just when violence becomes an issue. It's one thing to encourage unprovoked Molotov cocktail attacks, but what if protesters discuss arming themselves knowing that the government will likely be the first to act? Even with fairly minimal policies like Telegram's, that's not always an easy call. Via: Recode Source: Pavel Durov (Twitter 1), (2) Gadget News via Engadget http://www.engadget.com December 30, 2017 at 06:24PM
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Florida may finally implement full ban on texting while driving http://ift.tt/2Cuzt6P There are 43 states that currently treat texting while driving as a primary offense, but Florida isn't one of them -- you have to break another law before texting enters the picture. However, less-than-attentive commuters might not get away with it for much longer. The state legislature is about to consider a bill that would make texting a primary offense. In other words, officers could finally pull drivers over without waiting until they speed or otherwise put other road-goers at risk. Whether or not the measure works is another story. The AP notes that there are conflicting studies on the effectiveness of these laws. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety said that those states without texting as a main offense had higher-than-average highway death rates, but also stated that existing bans haven't led to a decrease in accidents despite many people putting their phones down. There's also a concern that police may use texting as an opportunity for racial profiling. An unscrupulous officer could theoretically cite texting while driving as a reason to stop a black person when they're really just looking for an excuse to indulge in racist suspicions. The bill could prevent crashes and save lives, but there may need to be close oversight to be sure that police aren't abusing their power. Source: Associated Press Gadget News via Engadget http://www.engadget.com December 30, 2017 at 05:00PM Apple 2017 year in review: iPad gets cheaper than ever more expensive than ever with new options12/30/2017
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Apple 2017 year in review: iPad gets cheaper than ever, more expensive than ever with new options http://ift.tt/2CjZath Apple 2017 year in review: iPad gets cheaper than ever, more expensive than ever with new optionsBy Neil Hughes Editor's note: This is the latest installment in AppleInsider's 2017 Year in Review series, recapping the biggest trends for Apple that carried throughout the year. A tale of two marketsWhen the first iPad launched in 2010, its $499 starting price was seen as much lower than expected. Still, for some, it wasn't low enough. As consumers found that an iPad could not yet completely replace their laptop, the market clamored for cheaper options, suitable for basic tasks like browsing the web or watching videos. Apple appeased those buyers with legacy models at lower prices, as well as the 7.9-inch iPad mini. But it wasn't until 2017 that the low-end iPad really came into its own with a full-size, no-compromises 9.7-inch model, aggressively priced at $329. Featuring a Retina display, Touch ID, and an A9 processor, it was arguably the best dollar-for-dollar value in the company's entire product lineup this year. On the high end, meanwhile, Apple's iPad Pro lineup got pricier than ever. The smaller iPad Pro model gained a slightly larger 10.5-inch screen with reduced bezels, and both it and the 12.9-inch versions saw their entry-level capacities boosted to 64 gigabytes, deserving of the "pro" moniker. Now, the cheapest iPad Pro model comes in at $649 for 64 gigabytes —considerably more than that $499 starting price introduced nearly 8 years ago. After years of shrinking sales, the iPad returns to growthA funny thing happened as Apple sent the iPad in two different directions: Sales rebounded. Facing years of declining sales, the iPad turned it around in 2017. Things got a boost in March with the debut of the $329 model, and then were further bolstered a few months later in June with two new iPad Pros. Starting with the June quarter, iPad sales grew to 11.42 million units, up from 9.95 million in the same period a year prior. That finally turned around years of iPad sales decline. It's hard to say definitively why 2017 was the year that things turned around for the iPad. A popular theory is that users hang onto and use their iPads longer than phones, with a 4-to-5-year lifespan more akin to a Mac or PC. Given that the iPad 2, which was a blockbuster success, no longer supports the latest iOS releases, it could have helped to inspire upgrades. In particular, this year's release of iOS 11 was huge for the iPad, bringing improved multitasking, the new Files app, drag-and-drop support between apps, and a revamped app dock that's more Mac-like than ever. It's also possible that Apple's new pricing strategy and hardware options made consumers feel like this year was the right time to upgrade. The truth is probably somewhere in the middle, but the end result is the same: The iPad is on the upswing once again. Expect more of the same next yearHow does Apple keep the momentum of 2017 going into next year? Continue to innovate, of course. With the introduction of the iPhone X and its Face ID camera, as well as the absence of the home button, it's likely that similar changes are around the corner for the iPad Pro. Rumors suggest the iPad Pro lineup could get the Face ID treatment in 2018, complete with thinner bezels and the elimination of the home button. Those changes could allow next year's iPads to be lighter and more portable than ever for their respective sizes. As for the low-end $329 iPad, don't be surprised if the hardware isn't refreshed next year. The budget tablet was outfitted with capable components in 2017, which would allow Apple to take the same approach it did with the iPhone SE, leaving the device largely as-is for a few years. One direction Apple could go, however, is further price cuts on that model. Already, resellers in the AppleInsider Price Guide offer the 9.7-inch iPad for as low as $300, and some rumors have suggested Apple could get costs down low enough to sell the tablet for about $260 in 2018. If the high-end iPad Pro gets better and the low-end 9.7-inch iPad gets cheaper next year, then Apple will just be pushing what has already proven to be a winning strategy: A two-pronged attack that's resonating with consumers who have very different tablet computing needs. Gadget News via AppleInsider - Frontpage News http://appleinsider.com December 30, 2017 at 04:47PM
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Ingredients That Add Flavor Without Adding Salt http://ift.tt/2BYDBLq Adapting to a low-sodium diet can be really hard. Your best bet is to cook most of your own meals, since starting from fresh ingredients gives you the most control over your milligrams. But even though your tastebuds will adjust, the fact remains: subtracting sodium subtracts flavor. As a home cook, though, you can see this as a challenge to rise to, a chance to learn how to make food taste great without relying on salt. Plus, the better low-sodium food tastes, the easier the diet will be to stick to. Here are some ingredients that add lots of strong flavor, without adding any salt. Advertisement Herbs and spices. The most obvious way to add more flavor is to... add more flavors. Strong spices like cumin, smoked paprika, and pepper add punch to salt-free food. Watch out for pre-made spice combos like chili powder, though, which often have salt added. And to balance the strength and heat of spices, add fresh herbs for brightness and even more flavor. Onion and garlic. Aromatics are a crucial part of the low-sodium arsenal. Caramelized onions and shallots especially can add a ton of flavor, sweet and savory all at once. Nutritional yeast. You’re sadly going to want to avoid lots of cheeses for their high sodium content, but nutritional yeast, a staple of many vegan kitchens, gives you that cheesy flavor without any salt. Mix into into rice, sprinkle it over veggies, or use it as a popcorn topping. It’s pretty amazing. Advertisement Vinegar and citrus. Acid makes a dish pop, especially giving a bright counterpoint to fats and richness. Beyond that, vinegars and citrus bring their own complex, powerful flavors, from the sweetness of balsamic vinegar to the aromatic lightness of lemon zest. Umami. Okay, this is a flavor and not an ingredient, but it’s a category that helps food taste rich and savory, and you’ll want a lot of it to make up for the lack of salt. When cooking low-sodium, I tend to go for umami-heavy vegetables like mushrooms and tomatoes—I love some low-sodium tomato paste—instead of bitter veggies like kale and cauliflower. Broth. Most store-bought broth is loaded with sodium, but you can buy sodium-free or make your own, from bones or vegetable scraps. Use it as a base for soups, sure, but use it to cook pasta or rice instead of water, too, for an extra flavor boost where a common mortal would rely on salt. Advertisement Obviously you want to use these ingredients in concert. Balsamic vinegar cooked down with caramelized onions and mushrooms has been the strong base of many a low-sodium meal for me—sweet and acidic and savory. Even without salt, you’ve got a lot of flavors to work with. Gadget News via Lifehacker http://lifehacker.com December 30, 2017 at 04:21PM Give music back its mojo: The Chord Poly Mojo are the music gadgets for elite hi-fi warriors12/30/2017 Give music back its mojo: The Chord Poly + Mojo are the music gadgets for elite hi-fi warriors http://ift.tt/2luOeyp Gadget News via gadgets - Google News http://ift.tt/2zdEA80 December 30, 2017 at 04:06PM Nokia 6 (2018) may have more than one variant, suggests new listing http://ift.tt/2logNhV Gadget News via gadgets - Google News http://ift.tt/2zdEA80 December 30, 2017 at 04:06PM
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Cryptocurrency expert kidnapped for $1 million bitcoin ransom http://ift.tt/2CdevMR On Tuesday, cryptocurrency expert Pavel Lerner was snatched by an armed gang wearing ski masks near his office in Ukraine. It was a kidnap-for-ransom scheme, but with a high-tech twist: instead of asking for easily traceable paper money, the kidnappers demanded to be paid $1 million worth of bitcoins. Turns out NY County District Attorney Cyrus Vance was right when he said we can expect cryptocurrency-related crimes (outside of cyber attacks) to be more common as its value surges. Vance made the statement after armed robbers held up a victim at gunpoint earlier this month to steal $1.8 million worth of virtual coins in New York. For the robbers, Lerner was a great target: he's a known bitcoin authority in Ukraine and is an executive at cryptocurrency exchange Exmo. He was thankfully released (shocked but alive) a couple of days later, but it's unclear who made the transfer for him and whether he did it himself. His company has assured users, though, that their coins are "absolutely safe" and that the kidnappers wouldn't have gotten access to their wallets and personal data since Lerner himself has no access to them. We're going to assume the criminals have already sold or moved their stash whatever the source was, since they'd have to deal with the virtual currency's fluctuating prices otherwise. Ukraine's National Police already launched a criminal case to investigate Lerner's abduction -- it's the first bitcoin-related one in the country, but it'll probably be just one of the many we'll hear about going forward. Source: Financial Times, The Guardian Gadget News via Engadget http://www.engadget.com December 30, 2017 at 03:24PM Alexa? Cortana? Siri? Choosing the Right Smart Speaker http://ift.tt/2CdSRrJ Gadget News via gadgets - Google News http://ift.tt/2zdEA80 December 30, 2017 at 03:06PM How to delete all your Google searches on desktop and mobile http://ift.tt/2zR03Ep Gadget News via gadgets - Google News http://ift.tt/2zdEA80 December 30, 2017 at 03:06PM Apple apologises for slowing down iPhones,cuts battery replacement price http://ift.tt/2DtB1gH Gadget News via gadgets - Google News http://ift.tt/2zdEA80 December 30, 2017 at 03:06PM |
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